PART 2 — Whiplash Symptoms: Headaches and neck pain, Driving, Returning to Work & When Scans Help

Quest Physio Chermside | Brisbane North

Neck Aches and Pains can really put a halt on your life

Whiplash Symptoms: Why It Affects More Than Just Your Neck

Understanding the ripple effects of whiplash & how physios pinpoint what’s really going on.

If you’ve ever wondered why a “simple” neck strain after a car accident can affect your driving, concentration, sleep, or shoulder movement, you're not imagining things.

Whiplash and neck pain involve more than just irritated neck muscles — it affects the systems around them too.

Let’s break it all down in clear, everyday language.

Why Whiplash Causes Headaches or Dizziness

This often happens because:

• The upper neck joints refer pain into the scalp

• Tight muscles pull on the base of the skull

• Balance systems become sensitive

• Postural tension increases

These symptoms usually improve as mobility returns.

One of our Brisbane North clients told us their headaches always started halfway through their morning drive — not at home. The longer the head stayed slightly forward (as we often do while driving), the more the upper neck protested. Once their mobility improved, those headaches faded too.

Is imaging necessary? Can a scan show pain?

What Imaging Can and Can’t Show

Most mild–moderate whiplash cases show normal scans, even when symptoms feel severe. That’s because:

• Soft tissue irritation doesn’t always show

• Ligament or muscle strain often isn’t visible

• Stiffness and guarding don’t appear on imaging

Scans are helpful when:

• A significant trauma is suspected

• Symptoms point to something beyond soft tissue strain

• Specific neurological signs appear

Otherwise, clinical assessment gives more useful insight.

Returning to Driving

You don’t need to be symptom-free, but you should be able to:

• Turn your head comfortably enough to check blind spots

• Shoulder-check without sharp pain

• Maintain concentration

If reversing, merging, or lane changes feel unsafe, early treatment can help.

Returning to Work & Daily Life

Depending on your routine:

• Desk work may increase stiffness

• Tradespeople feel it during overhead tasks

• Parents feel it when lifting kids

• Long drives fatigue the neck

Gradual reloading works better than complete avoidance.

How Physios Differentiate Whiplash from General Neck Pain

Physios assess:

• Mechanism of injury (car vs sport vs gradual)

• Delayed vs immediate symptoms

• Movement quality

• Headache patterns

• Eye/vestibular responses

• Stress/tension load

• Neural screening

This creates a clear, personalised plan rather than guesswork.

Reversing is so much harder.

Real-Life Example

A local driver was rear-ended at low speed. Day 1? “I’m fine.” Day 2? Neck stiffness + headache. Day 3? Reversing felt unsafe.

This pattern is extremely common — and very treatable.

If driving, concentrating, or daily tasks still feel difficult, the physiotherapists at Quest Physio Chermside can help assess your movement and guide your recovery.

This content is general and does not replace advice from a registered health professional.